Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan

As more economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels for their electricity production and towards greener alternatives, many socioeconomic implications of this shift remain actively debated. The present paper attempts to assess the economic impact of investments in renewable energy sources (RE...

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Main Authors: Dimitrios Stamopoulos, Petros Dimas, Ioannis Sebos, Aggelos Tsakanikas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8537
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author Dimitrios Stamopoulos
Petros Dimas
Ioannis Sebos
Aggelos Tsakanikas
author_facet Dimitrios Stamopoulos
Petros Dimas
Ioannis Sebos
Aggelos Tsakanikas
author_sort Dimitrios Stamopoulos
collection DOAJ
description As more economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels for their electricity production and towards greener alternatives, many socioeconomic implications of this shift remain actively debated. The present paper attempts to assess the economic impact of investments in renewable energy sources (RESs) for Greece and whether the broader effects of this transition can offset the negative impact that will occur due to the targeted phase-out of lignite plants by 2028, which constitute the predominant power source for Greece. Our methodological approach builds on input–output analysis and the creation of composite RES industries for the estimation of the net effects of a series of monetary shocks that correspond to Greece’s phase-out investment plan, utilizing the most recent national input–output tables and satellite structural business statistics. We focus on the structural effects of these shocks on a series of socioeconomic indicators, including GDP, employment, wages, government income (through taxes), and capital formation. The results indicate that even though lignite power production still provides a significant contribution to the Greek economy, investing in renewables presents a significant opportunity for value added and job creation.
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spelling doaj.art-a5364972b62c421f80cdd7e263ae85bc2023-11-23T08:08:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-12-011424853710.3390/en14248537Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate PlanDimitrios Stamopoulos0Petros Dimas1Ioannis Sebos2Aggelos Tsakanikas3Laboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, GreeceLaboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, GreeceSchool of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, GreeceLaboratory of Industrial and Energy Economics, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, GreeceAs more economies are transitioning away from fossil fuels for their electricity production and towards greener alternatives, many socioeconomic implications of this shift remain actively debated. The present paper attempts to assess the economic impact of investments in renewable energy sources (RESs) for Greece and whether the broader effects of this transition can offset the negative impact that will occur due to the targeted phase-out of lignite plants by 2028, which constitute the predominant power source for Greece. Our methodological approach builds on input–output analysis and the creation of composite RES industries for the estimation of the net effects of a series of monetary shocks that correspond to Greece’s phase-out investment plan, utilizing the most recent national input–output tables and satellite structural business statistics. We focus on the structural effects of these shocks on a series of socioeconomic indicators, including GDP, employment, wages, government income (through taxes), and capital formation. The results indicate that even though lignite power production still provides a significant contribution to the Greek economy, investing in renewables presents a significant opportunity for value added and job creation.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8537input–output analysisrenewableslignite phase-outEuropean Green Dealeconomic multipliersenergy policy
spellingShingle Dimitrios Stamopoulos
Petros Dimas
Ioannis Sebos
Aggelos Tsakanikas
Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
Energies
input–output analysis
renewables
lignite phase-out
European Green Deal
economic multipliers
energy policy
title Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
title_full Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
title_fullStr Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
title_full_unstemmed Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
title_short Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan
title_sort does investing in renewable energy sources contribute to growth a preliminary study on greece s national energy and climate plan
topic input–output analysis
renewables
lignite phase-out
European Green Deal
economic multipliers
energy policy
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/24/8537
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